Took another few days off because the thought of having to come up with more words to describe a bunch of albums I listened to one time in the middle of a workday felt daunting. Sometimes I just run out of words! But then I remember that I can just put whatever in here, secure in the knowledge that only one other person is likely to read it. Hi Nathaniel! 🙂
Anything Can’t Happen by Dorothea Paas
Slow, almost trance-like electric guitar melodies permeate this album. Along with Paas’ soothing vocals and occasional bursts of dark synths, Anything Can’t Happen feels like slipping into a lukewarm bath. In a good way. The water’s clean and all, don’t worry, and it’s nice to take a bath! But the temperature, being neither hot nor cold, keeps you slightly on edge. I don’t know. Does that any fuckin make sense as a metaphor? Whatever. Take it or leave it. I’m not comin’ up with another one.
Highlights: “Anything Can’t Happen,” “Frozen Window,” “Running Under My Life.”
4 stars out of 5.
Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs by Klô Pelgag
Can’t think of anything interesting to say about this one. It was pretty good. Kind of baroque pop-y with a dark ambient twist. Tempted to just stop writing these blurbs when all I can write is a short description of the genre and a perfunctory “hey, not bad!”
Highlight: “Rémora.”
3.25 stars out of 5.
Opia by Savannah Ré
Hey, not bad!
Highlight: “Best Is Yet to Come.”
3 stars out of 5.
Outside Child by Allison Russell
Hey, not bad!
2.75 stars out of 5.
Sagot by Julien Sagot
Here’s a tip for all the musicians out there: if you want me to enjoy your album, put a bunch of reverbed saxophone on it.
Highlights: “Cendre et descendre,” “Morte alitée.”
4 stars out of 5.
Magic Radio by Sergeant x Comrade
Musically fine, but one of the singers had an affected 1950s-esque vocal style that I found deeply irritating. One of the songs did have a lyric that went like “we’re higher than an Otis elevator,” and namedropping an elevator brand in a rap feature is just hilarious to me.
2 stars out of 5.
Yellow River Blue by Yu Su
A fascinating and fun infusion of genres. Electronic ambient synthpop music that employs warbling synthesizers, trip-hop percussion, and traditional Chinese stringed instruments. I was bopping my head along the whole time. Simply a blast!
Highlights: “Xiu,” “Melaleuca,” “Klein.”
4.25 stars out of 5.
The Ridge by Julian Taylor
Hey, not bad!
2.75 stars out of 5.
Shirushi by TEKE::TEKE
Hey, not bad!
Highlights: “Kala Kala,” “Meikyu.”
3.5 stars out of 5.
ELEMENTS Vol. 1 by TOBi
Yadda yadda “hey, not bad!” you get the point. I’m tired of this.
2.75 stars out of 5.
Vagina Witchcraft by Vagina Witchcraft
A bit same-y, but still very hard-hitting metal. I listened to this while playing Bowser’s Fury. That’s a completely irrelevant detail, but I felt like including it anyway.
Highlight: “No Sinners.”
3.25 stars out of 5.
Ignorance by The Weather Station
Hey, not bad!
Highlight: “Atlantic,” “Tried to Tell You.”
3.25 stars out of 5.
Bleached Wavves by Zoon
I finally arrived at the last one! Does that mean I’m going to put more effort into this review in order to go out on a bang? No.
Highlight: “Landscapes, “Help Me Understand.”
3.25 stars out of 5.
My Short List
Having now listened to all 40 Polaris long list nominees, here are my 10 favourites in alphabetical order:
- The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings by The Besnard Lakes
- Theory of Ice by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
- Vital by Big Brave
- Someone New by Helena Deland
- Kind by Thanya Iyer
- Humor by Russell Louder
- Anything Can’t Happen by Dorothea Paas
- Sagot by Julien Sagot
- Yellow River Blue by Yu Su
- Shirushi by TEKE::TEKE
Alright, that’s it. Have a good one.
ruminations of a sad oaf. 